Module Identifier BS32720  
Module Title POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY  
Academic Year 2002/2003  
Co-ordinator Dr Robert J Wootton  
Semester Semester 1  
Other staff Dr John H R Gee, Dr Simon S Creasey  
Pre-Requisite BS22720  
Course delivery Lecture   30 Hours  
  Practical   5 Hours 6 x 3 hours  
Assessment Semester Exam   3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper   70%  
  Semester Assessment   Practical Exercise: Continuous assessment of practicals Submitted in 6th week of semester   30%  
  Supplementary Assessment   3 Hours One 3-hour theory paper (plus resubmission of failed courswork or an alternative)    

Learning outcomes

On competion of the course the student should

Aims

The course introduces at an elementary level, theoretical developments in population and community ecology, with theory related, where possible, to empirical studies. The need to assess the underlying assumptions of the models developed is emphasised throughout.

Content

The subject addresses three main problems. What factors determine population abundance and changes in that abundance? What factors cause changes in the genetic composition of populations? What factors determine the number of species that can co-exist in a given area?

The population ecology component covers the following topics: estimation of population abundance, the construction and use of life tables, the concept of density dependence, life history theory, and population growth models emphasising the logistic model. The population dynamics of species with overlapping and non-overlapping generations are compared. The behavioural ecology of foraging, predation and social behaviour is discussed in relation to the consequences for population abundance.

The use of genetic markers to define populations and to follow the dynamics of change in the genetic structure of populations is described.

The community ecology components discusses two-species models for predator-prey and competitive interactions, species diversity, food webs, and island biogeography. The relevance of community ecology for conservation is considered.

Reading Lists

Books
** Essential Reading
Krebs, C.J.. (1994) Ecology. Harper Collins.
Cook, L.M.. (1991) Genetics & Ecological diversity. Chapman & Hall.
Begon, M. Townsend, C. & Harper, J. (1996) Ecology. Backwell.
Ricklefs, R.E. & Miller, G.L.. (1999) Ecology. W.H. Freeman
Case, T.G.. (2000) An illustrated guide to theoretical ecology. Oxford University Press